Self-lighting cigarettes



iNvENToRs ATTO RN EVS W//VSTO/V E. PLEY PAUL f. JPOf'le/Z Jan. 26, 1965 wl B. PALEY ETAL SELF-LIGHTING CIGARETTES Filed May 23,

United States atent M 3,167,075 SELF-LIGHTING CIGARETTES Winston B. Paley, New York, and Paul E. Spoerri, Brooklyn, NX., assignors to Eric M. Javits, New York, N. Y. Filed May 23, 1961;, Ser. No. 123,333 3 Claims. (Cl. ISL-7) This invention relates to cigarette packaging. More particularly, it is directed to providing in combination with a package of cigarettes, means for lighting the cigarettes.

It has been proposed heretofore to outt a cigarette package with means for lighting the cigarettes so that the necessity for using means separate from the package, such as a package of matches or a cigarette lighter, is dispensed with. Usually these proposals embody the idea of, in effect, mounting the igniting tip` of a match on one end of the cigarette and mounting someplace on the package a friction surface for striking the match. See Patent No. 1,327,139. Another proposal is to mount a hermetically sealed capsule containing a self-igniting chemical in the end of the cigarette. A tear tab is provided to rupture the capsule and expose the chemical to air whereupon ignition occurs and lthe cigarette is lighted. See Patent No. 2,370,306. Still another proposal is to utilize the reaction of potassium permanganate with glycerol by mounting a capsule containing potassium permanganate in an end of the cigarette and attaching to the package a pad of absorbent material containing glycerol. The cigarette is lighted as a result of contact between the capsule and the pad. See Patent No. 2,029,186.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide improvements in lighting means of the type employing chemically reactive lighting aids such as potassium permanganate and glycerol.

Within this broad objective, it is the purpose of the invention to provide improvement in a capsule of active material such as in respect to the amount and condition of the active material contained in the capsule, and also with respect to the structure of the capsule and the mounting thereof in the cigarette.

It is also within the broad objective to provide a cigarette box especially adapted for housing chemically reactive lighting aids ina safe and convenient manner.

,j `Still within the broad objective, it is intended to provide a novel pack of cigarettes which includes the combination of cigarettes provided with one of the lighting aids, and a cigarette box housing the other lighting aid.

The manner in which these purposes are attained according to the invention, will be apparent trom the ensuing description taken in reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a package of cigarettes according t-o one embodiment of the invention, the package being shown with the lid in the open position;

package;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the package shown in FIG. l, the near side panel being broken away to expose the inside of the package, and the package being shown with the lid in the closed position; f

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken alo-ng line 3*?3 in FIG. 1, and showing just the upper portion of the FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a corner of the lid, the lid being in the position shown in FIG. 1;

,FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an end portion of a cigarette provided with a capsule according to one embodiment of the invention;

. FIG. 6 is a perspective View of a portion of a package of cigarettes `according to an embodiment alternative to that of FIG. l; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an end portion of a 3,167,075 Patented Jan. 26., 1965 HCC cigarette provided with a capsule according to an embodiment of the invention alternative to the embodiment of FIG. 5.

In the drawing, like reference characters indicate corresponding parts.

According to the invention, a pack of cigarettes comprises a compartmented container including a compartment for cigarettes and a compartment for a rstlighting aid which can be an absorbent pad carrying glycerol. A second lighting aid, which can be a potassium permanganate capsule, is disposed in one tip of the cigarettes, and the lighting aids are utilized for lighting a `cigarette by holding the permanganate capsule in Contact with the glycerol containing pad for a few moments, after which the cigarette is removed from contact with the pad. Due to reaction of the permanganate and glycerol the cigarette will light. Instead of the system potassium permanganate-glycerol, any other oxidation-reduction system which is suitably chemically reactive upon a similar type of contact as above, can be used.

A feature of the container is closure means for each of the compartments, whereby the package can be closed and the compartments can be suitably isolated, and each of the compartments can be selectively opened and closed.

The container can be a shape retaining, disposable, 4- sided cigarette box having a lhinged lid provided by a cut continuous about 3 sides and a hinge portion along a line in the fourth side, joining the end points of the cut. A compartment for an element of a cigarette lighting means is secured to the box, and an absorbent pad as the cigarette lighting means element is permanently secured within the compartment, and closure means are provided for the compartment.

Referring to FIGS. l4 of the drawing, wherein a pre` ferred embodiment of the invention is shown, a pack of cigarettes comprises a shape retaining, disposable, 4 sided cigarette box 2l containing cigarettes 22 which have second lighting aids in the form of capsules 22a mounted in one end thereof. The cigarettes are disposed in the box with the capsule tip end down. The box is of cardboard of weight and general construction of the common, so-called, crush-proof cigarette boxes. Within the box, the cigarettes are enclosed in a metal foil ybacked paper liner Z3, as is usual. In the drawings, except FIG. 2, the top ofthe liner 23 is removed so that the cigarettes are accessible when the lid is in the openposition.

The box has front panel 24, side panels 25 and 26, and rear panel 27, `and a body portion 28 and a lid 29. The lid 29 is provided by a continuous cut 30 which extends along the side and front panels, and a hinge portion 3l in the `back panel and disposed along a line joining the points 32 and 33 of the cut 30.`

An absorbent pad 38 as an element of a cigarette lighting means is permanently secured within the lid 29. The pad has glycerol or other suitable reducing agent absorbed therein. Care should be taken so that the amount of glycerol or other absorbed material is not so much that the cigarette paper will be wetted by the absorbed material upon lighting the cigarette. Thus, disadvantages such as the undersirable order of excess glycerol can be avoided. Y l

There is also provided compartmenting closure means which `serve to compartment the box into a cigarettecontaining compartment within the body portion 28 and a lighting aid containing compartment within the lid 29. The compartmenting closure means can be the ap 39, which is hinged within the box along a line parallel to and adjacent the lid hinge line which joins the ends 32 and 33 of the cut 3). Thus, the compartmenting closure means is movable to permit access to each of said compartments with the lid 29 in the open portion as is shown in FIG. 1.

Advantageously, an insert ttl is provided for the absorbent pad E8. The insert is disposed in close fitting relationship within the lid 29 and is permanently secured therein, as by an adhesive for example. As Shown, the insert comprises a rectangular box disposed Within the lid 29, open side down (with the lid in the closed position), and having an integrally hinged cover which is the aforementioned Hap 39. The insert is arranged within the lid so that the flap hinge 4l is disposed along a line parallel to and adjacent the lid hinge line within the aforementioned hinge portion 3l. Thus the flap is provided so that access to the two compartments of the box is conveniently obtainable, as will be apparent from a consideration of FIG. l.

The insert d@ can 'be of cardboard, and ldesir-ably, it is provided with a metal foil l2 or other covering which renders it impervious to material, such as glycerol, held by the pad.

To provide for positioning the ap in its closed position, i.e. in the position shown in FlG. 2 and wherein it suitably isolates the compartment containing the absorbent pad 3S from the cigarette compartment, a rest, preferably two rests 43 and dit are provided for receiving toe flap 39 in abutting relation above and adjacent the cigarette level (Le. the top of the cigarettes) in the box. The rests d?) and 4d are formed by inturned ends of rest supports, respectively 45 and d6 which are opstanding pieces of cardboard lining and glued to the side panels 25 and 26 within the body portion 28 of the box, and which extend upwardly for integral connection to the rests, respectively, and 44.

The rests 43 and le are retained in place by engagement of forward edge lportions thereof .in grooves 47 and fi-S deined by undercut portions of upstanding tongues i9 and 5@ (later described) and the upwardly extending projections 56 and 57 of fillery piece 58 which is glued to the upper portion of the inside surface of the front panel 24.

Provision of the rests 43 and 44 in the manner described permits emplacing the rests in the grooves 47 and d3 after the box is lled with cigarettes, so that the rests do not interfere with the filling operation. Thus, after lling, the rests can be 4turned inwardly until edge portions thereof snap into the grooves 47 and 4S provided therefor.

To secure the flap in the closed position, a holding member is mounted in the lid 29 for abutting with the yllap and holding it against the rests 43 and dd, when the lid is in the closed position. The holding member can be the edge portion 59 of the insert 4t).

In a preferred construction, the flap 39, when in the closed position, substantially hermetically seals the compartment containing the absorbent pad 38. Such sealing will preclude undesirable contamination of the cigarettes by vapor evolved by material, such as glycerol, held by the pad. Thus the edge portion 59 of the insert dit, can be made substantially continuous so as to seal the absorbent pad within the insert when the ap is in the closed position.v As shown in the drawing, this is done by extending the edge por-tion 59Vfrom one end of the ap hinge 41, about the periphery of the insert di?, and to the other end of the ap hinge Lil. The insert covering 42 makes the flap impervious so that in the construction described, the absorbent pad is substantially hermetically sealed when the ap 39 is in the closed position. Desirably, the edge portion is spaced from the pad 3S to prevent the pad from directly contacting the `flap 39.

ln order to yieldingly restrain the lid 29 in the closed position, a restraining tongue, preferably two restraining tongues i9 and 5t) (before mentioned) are provided. These tongues extend upwardly from the box body portion 2S and one of the cut panels. Preferably, one of lsaid tongues extends upwardly from the body portion 23 and the front panel 24 adjacent each of the side panels 25 and 2d, as shown in the drawing. The tongues extend downwardly along the inside front surface of therfront panel 24- and are glued to this surface.

Grooves ed and e7 are provided in the lid 29 for receiving the tongues t9 and 5t) in tight fitting relationship by spacing portions of the insert It@ from the walls of the lid rhus, upon manually moving the lid respectively to the open and closed position the tongues are alterna-tively withdrawn :and inserted into the grooves and 67.

ln a preferred construction flap, actuating means are provided for limiting travel of the flap 39 to less than the travel of the lid 29 when the lid is moved to the. full open position, so that the absorbent pad will be suitably exposed when the lid is moved to the open position. Since flap is integrally hinged to the insert All, it will tend to travel with the insert upon opening of the lid. Thus, the cigarettes will be rendered accessible, but the absorbent pad 38 will likely be inaccessible. The actuating means obviates this diiculty by restraining the flap 39 following a predetermined travel thereof upon opening the lid 29. The actuating means can be in the form of an elastomeric strip 69 secured at its ends to, respectively, the underside of the flap 39 and the inside surface of back -panel Z7. Preferably, the strip $9 is not under tension when the lid is in the closed position as if it is, it will tend to urge the lid to the open position.

The surfaces of the lid 29 exposed to heating upon lighting of the cigarette are made heat resistant in order to avoid injury thereto. In the embodiment of the drawing, the cut for the lid extends horizontally across the front panel 24 and upwardly from the front panel 24 to the back panel 27', along each side panel 25 and 25, and the lid hinge line in the hinge portion 3l is spaced from the upper edge of the back panel. The insert 4@ is rectangular in vertical cross section and has depth sub-- stantially equal to the spacing of the lid hinge line and the upper edge of the back panel 27. This construction may result in exposed portions of the inside surface, indicated at 70, of the lid, as well as the top surface of lap 39, being exposed to heating upon lighting of the cigarettes. Accordingly, these surfaces are covered with metal foil '7l or other suitable coatings to render them resistant to heating.

An alternative to the construction shown in FIGS. 1 4, is depicted in FIG. 6. A compartment S2 is secured to the outside surface of the lid 29, as by permanently securing it thereto by an adhesive. Absorbent pad 83 is permanently secured within the compartment, and closure means in the form of a cover 84 for the top of the compartment S2 is hinged to thecompartment along the top edge Se thereof, diagonally opposite to the hinge portion 3l, whereby the lid 2 is hingedto the body portion of the package. For securing the cover 84 in the closed position, tongues such as tongue S5 are attached to the clover and recesses y86 are provided in the body portion of the compartment 82 for receiving the 2, otherthan the edge thereof .adjacent the Vrear panel of the box. More generally, the cover is hinged to the compart-ment so that the edge of the cover .oppositethe hinge is other than the edge thereof in the plane of the front `panel of the box. Y

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the invention provides a cigarette package in which a., lighting aid such as an absorbent pad carrying a liquid reducing agent, e.g. a polyol, is suitably mounted and arranged in a pack of cigarettes. The invention further provides for suitable mounting in the cigarette, the other lighting aid, whereby there is provided a unitary package containing the cigarettes and lighting aids, all in a manner to permit practical utilization of the idea of providing cigarettes `in combination with lighting means so that the necessity for the use of lighting means separate from the package is dispensed with.

Where the lighting aid mounted in the end of a cigarette is an oxidizing agent, such as potassium permanganate, it has been found necessary to suitably isolate the oxidizing agent from the tobacco as the tobacco includes ingredients, which may be additives included in the tobacco during the processing thereof, that are reactive with the oxidizing agent and will, if permitted to contact the oxidizing agent, render the oxidizing agent lighting aid ineffective for its intended purpose. Thus in the absence of suitable isolation, over a period of days, the activity of the oxidizing agent may be lost.

According to the invention, where the lighting aid mounted in an end of the cigarette is an oxidizing agent, such as potassium permanganat'e, an impervious barrier means is interposed between said oxidizing agent and the tobacco of the cigarette to prevent transfer of tobacco ingredients reactive with the oxidizing agent from the tobacco to the oxidizing agent.

The oxidizing agent can be any such material reactive with a reducing agent so that upon holding the cigarette with said lighting aid in contact with the reducing agent a reaction effective to light the cigarette can be obtained.

As to particular oxidizing agent-reduction systems, suitable reducing agents are polyols, such as polyols contain* ing about 2-6 carbon atoms and about 2-6 hydroxy groups, for example, glycerol, ethylene glycol, diethyleneglycol, triethyleneglycol, sorbitol dissolved in a suitable vehicle, and pentaerythritol dissolved in a suitable vehicle.

lycerol is the preferred reducing agent. A mixture of glycerol and sorbitol can be used. Other mixtures can also be used. Suitable oxidizing agents are metal permanganates, and mixtures of metal permanganates can be used. The permanganate material should be selected or formulated so that it is not excessively hygroscopic or too violently reactive. Suitable metal permanganat'es for use in the formulations are alkaline earth metal and alkali metal'permanganates. Specific mention can be made of potassium, silver, magnesium, lithium, and sodium. Potassium permanganate is preferred and can advantageously be used alone. The silver derivative tends to be violently reactive, The magnesium derivative tends to be hygroscopic and sodium permanganate is excessively hygroscopic. A small amount of silver permanganate can be combined with potassium permanganate if desired.

The barrier can be a combustible impervious layer over surfaces of the oxidizing agent-containing lighting aid which are exposed to the tobacco. Advantageously, the layer can be cellulose based.

Where the oxidizing agent is potassium permanganate, it has -been )found that the amount of permanganate, the particle size and the distribution is important. The amount can .be about 0.03-005 gram and is preferably about 0.03 gram. The particle size can be up to about that obtained by crushing 0.5-1 mm. commercial crystals in a mortar and pestle. Thus, the particle size is less than about 0.01 mm. The distribution can be such that the amount set forth as suitable is distributed over an area corresponding to a diameter of about 1A" or in the range of 3716" to 5/16. Less permanganate is insufficient to effect the lighting of `the cigarette, whereas more may cause too much reaction.

Larger particle Vsize potassium permanganate is not suitably reactive as it does not react sufficiently rapidly and uniformly. And the distribution as mentioned is much `preferred as it results in suitable concentration of the rethe cigarette but does not damage the cigarette or the package, It is not necessary to draw on the cigarette in order to light it. After the capsule contacts the reducing agent, the cigarette can merely be held in fthe hand. The oxidizing agent reacts, the covering burns, and the tobacco lights. Any product of combustion from the burning and adhering to the c-igarette can be removed therefrom in the ashes by flicking the cigarette.

A limitation on the lighting aid -mounted on the package is that it should not support combustion, for if it does support combustion, it could all be ignited by the lighting of the cigarette.

Referring to FIG. 5, a cigarette 22 has a capsule 73 in the form of `a thin disc (shown somewhat enlarged) mounted in an end thereof. The capsule comprises about 0.03 gram of potassium permanganate uniformly distributed therein, and the diameter of `the disc .is substantially that of the cigarette, The capsule further comprises a paper cover 74. The paper can be such as is -used as yfacial or toilet ltissue e.g. Scott toilet tissue. on its back side 75, and the edge portion 76 is lightly impregnated with pyroxylin to prevent ingredients of the tobacco from passing through the paper to the permanganate. The paper covering the outwardly disposed face 77 of the capsule, or at least a substantial area of this paper, is not impregnated as it is desired that the reducing agent be able to quickly permeate the outwardly disposed face. Accordingly, this face is of porous paper.

To secure the capsule'in place, the cigarette paper 78 extends ax-ially outwardly of the capsule 74 and Ibeyond the outwardly disposed end of the capsule, turns radially inwardly to engagement with the capsule. Thus the bead 79 is provided which serves to retain the capsule in place.

An alternative construction :for the mounting of the lighting aid in the cigarette is shown in LFIG. 7. Here, the barrier is a cup lformed of combustible material which is impervious to any tobacco ingredient reactive with the loxidizing agent, and it is mounted in the tip of the cigarette, open end out The cup 90 can be cast pyroxylin nitrocellulose 'formed by casting collodion to the desired form and evaporating the solvent.V It can be a shape retaining cup of about lgg inch wall thickness, and about i inch depth.

The lighting `aid includes the capsule 891which contains Ioxidizing .agent 91 in powder, the oxidizing agent being contained in a cellulose based covering in the form of porous paper covering 92, the covering being pervious t0 permit transmissions of reducing agent quickly to the oxidizing agent. The capsule 89 can be secured in the cup 90 by friction, and the capsule and cup can be secured in Vthe cigarette tip by the bead 7 9.

i Machinery as is used to mount iilters on cigarettes can be used to mount the capsules, or capsules and cups.

While various specific embodiments of the invention have been described, it is intended to secure by these letters patent all embodiments as are within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l, A cigarette having a lighting aid disposed in one end thereof, the tip of said cigarette end having said lighting aid disposed therein being permeable, said lighting aid comprising an oxidizing agent reactive with `a reducing agent so that `after holding the cigarette with said lighting aid in contact with the reducing agent, reaction effective to light the cigarette can be obtained, and barrier means interposed between said oxidizing agent and the tobacco of the cigarette to prevent transfer of tobacco ingredients reactive with the oxidizing agent from the tobacco to the oxidizing agent, said lighting aid being enclosed in a cornbustible, cellulose-containing covering, the part of said covering exposed to the tobacco being lightly impregnated with pyroxylin to render it impervious, and the part thereof exposed for contacting to effect lighting being perv-ious to permit transmission of a polyol for the lighting reaction to the oxidizing agent.

The paper suer/,075

2, A cigarette according to claim 1, the cigarette paper extending axially of the lighting aid and turning radially inwardly beyond the outwardly disposed end of the lighting aid to engagement with 'the lighting aid to secure the lighting aid in place.

3. A capsule for insertion in the end of a cigarette for use as a cigarette lighting aid, the capsule comprising about 0.03-005 gram of potassium .permanganate of particle` size less than about 0.01 mm., a combustible, cellulosecontaining covering for the capsule, the capsule being in the form -of a thin disc, of diameter of about M1 inch, the potassium permanganate being uniformly distributed therein, one at surface of said disc being pervious to polyols thereby permitting transmission of polyols to the potassium permanganate, the other fla-t surface being treated to render it impervious to tobacco ingredients reactive with potassium permanganate.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Gilbert Mar. 1S, Brown Jan. 6, Harsh Apr. 5, Soltys Aug. 21, Peterson Jan. l28, Reilly Feb, 15, Hansen May 9, Strauch Sept. 5, Haber Feb. 27, Shio Sept. 15, Mabry Nov. 22,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 9, Great Britain July 11, 

1. A CIGARETTE HAVING A LIGHTING AID DISPOSED IN ONE END THEREOF, THE TIP OF SAID CIGARETTE END HAVING SAID LIGHTING AID DISPOSED THEREIN BEING PERMEABLE, SAID LIGHTING AID COMPRISING AN OXIDIZING AGENT REACTIVE WITH A REDUCING AGENT SO THAT AFTER HOLDING THE CIGARETTE WITH SAID LIGHTING AID IN CONTACT WITH THE REDUCING AGENT, REACTION EFFECTIVE TO LIGHT THE CIGARETTE CAN BE OBTAINED, AND BARRIER MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID OXIDIZING AGENT AND THE TOBACCO OF THE CIGARETTE TO PREVENT TRANSFER OF TOBACCO INGREDIENTS REACTIVE WITH THE OXIDIZING AGENT FROM THE TOBACCO TO THE OXIDIZING AGENT, SAID LIGHTING AID BEING ENCLOSED IN A COMBUSTIBLE, CELLOLUSE-CONTAINING COVERING, THE PART OF SAID COVERING EXPOSED TO THE TOBACCO BEING LIGHTLY IMPREGNATED WITH PYROXYLIN TO RENDER IT IMPERVIOUS, AND THE PART THEREOF EXPOSED FOR CONTACTING TO EFFECT LIGHTING BEING PREVIOUS TO PERMIT TRANSMISSION OF A POLYOL FOR THE LIGHTING REACTION TO THE OXIDIZING AGENT. 